Got into an argument and got reported to the police... what do you think?

You made a mistake when you were stressed, not an unusual thing to do. I went down a one way street in London once as I got lost and a Policeman stopped me! So I totally understand how this kind of thing can happen.

He sounds like an absolute dick. And as pps have already said, I really doubt he'd have approached you if you were a man - and for him to approach your Mum clearly an elderly lady!

Be safe in the knowledge OP that this is more than likely a man who enjoys bullying women, deliberately goading them including on social media probably leaving horrible messages about them being 'dried up old hags' or suchlike. Probably still lives with his Mum living his sad little life in his bedroom. Sadly for you, that day, he decided to leave his bedroom and social media for a while to annoy a woman irl. There's lots of them sadly!

Glad the Police saw sense.

I can’t relate to this at all. I’d never have engaged with him. But then I’m a Londoner and we don’t speak to strangers 🤣

I'm pretty sure he didn't call the police because he was scared she was going to track him down and punch him! More likely because he was angry that she dared to retaliate, rather than just crying and apologising as he would probably have preferred.

Yes, her response was ill judged. But I wouldn't say it was a police matter.

You did threaten him though?

Reported her for threatening violence. Jesus what type of wild west is the UK where you are all 'reacting' to people by threatening to punch them? It's mad how many people think that this is a normal proportionate reaction and that he was asking for it.

Some middle aged women are built like brick shit houses, the majority of them are overweight and could probably put a bit of that heft behind a punch.

Yes - this was the time to swear - a swift "Mind your own fucking business" without breaking your stride would have nipped this bullshit in the bud. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I am glad it went no further and that you're OK.

Stop it. It's absolutely not sexual harrassment. It's harassment. It's already tough for women approaching the authorities when they are sexually harassed or assaulted. This does not help, telling her to report a false claim. This man did not make a sexual advance on her.

He is a bellend. Who actually calls the police about this? He wasn’t in any way concerned for his safety, he was just being a prick and causing you grief probably because you dared to argue back. Sorry you had to meet this absolute twat OP, just be thankful you’re not his wife!

Just today I came head to head with another driver on a single lane road. I live rurally and it is common for whichever driver is closest to the nearest passing point to reverse. He began to reverse and I assumed he intended to reverse to the junction just behind him but he then drove forward and turned onto the pavement and continued along it until he could rejoin the road. A little disconcerting but I just rose my eyebrows and continued on my way. I am not the traffic police.

I must say that most rural drivers are courteous and drive defensively, looking ahead and pulling aside in good time rather than trying to squeeze past. I give and receive 10+ waves of thanks on a routine trip to the local shops. Also today a man continued walking on a single track road in front of my car completely oblivious to my presence. When he realised he turned around with a big depreciating grin and waved his apologies. I smiled and waved back.

No such courtesy is involved when driving in unfamiliar towns and cities with confusing roundabouts and road systems with unexpected pedestrian areas. The man in question could have been helpful and given instructions or assisted the OP to take an illlegal shortcut to make sure it was safe to do so but instead chose to berate her and her mother for not following the rules. And then reported her for reacting. No wonder the police are overwhelmed.

I'm actually a bit surprised the cops didn't at least discourage some of your behaviour and warn you that if you do that in the future it could land you in trouble rather than being sympathetic as you describe.

I'd also expect them to do the same to him.

Most surprising thing about all this is that police turned up within 2 hours.

It was a threat. And there are definitely middle aged women who are not above a bit of violence and some of them are the sort to drive badly too.

When I hear these stories I always ask myself the question: would he say it to a man?

Pedestrians can appear out of nowhere. Specifically children.

Probably end of hi# teacher with others doing similar. Neither of you behaved appropriately.

Well seems like you did a dangerous thing. But guy shouldn't have followed you. That's harrassment. Maybe you need to take a few refresher driving lessons if you are confused when driving.

She didn't confuse a pavement for a road at all, she thought she could access where she was going down a particular side street, realised she couldn't, there was a pavement at the end, had the option of - drive over the pavement to the road on the other side or reverse out of a narrow side street onto a main road, something that is strongly advised against.

People drive over pavements every fucking day - anyone with a dropped kerb drives over a pavement to access their driveway. There are sections of my local city that have pedestrian areas that are vehicle accessible before 9am/after 8pm, where a driver may find themselves on a pavement that also has pedestrians on it.

She didn't plough through a group of pedestrians and one should safely presume that had there been a pedestrian on that bit of pavement, she'd have waited for them to not be!

But some men do do that with people bigger and stronger than them.

ALL.THE.TIME.

As do some women.

I've worked with violence for nearly 30 years.

I work now with DC. You have 14-18 year old boys threatening and attacking grown men and women. 14-18 year old GIRLS threatening grown men and women, including regular assaults on paramedics and Police.

The difference between the 2 is the girls say they felt threatened, were traumatised and acted out so they usually get dealt with out of court.

She probably would have come on mumsnet and complained about it where posters would tell her to call the police.

If you are in this situation again or any sticky situation don’t make threats to assault someone or you’ll be in hot water for a second time.
He was a busy body, you were in the wrong too.

I think you were foolish to lose your temper, and to issue threats to a strange bloke about 'punching him in the face'.

You'd have been far better to take the moral high ground and when he followed you to have stopped and said calmly, 'I'm finding you very intimidating and if you continue to approach me then I will call the police. Please go away now'. I'd have got my phone out ready to take a picture of him.

He sounds like a busy body - but he would presumably have left you at this point without you putting yourself in the wrong.

My Dad got reported to the police once and recieved a caution because someone who was parked across his drive reported him for threatening behaviour.

My Dad simply asked him to move his car, "because hes not a very good driver and he might accidentally hit your car if its parked like that (across the driveway!)" the bloke took that as a gaurentee my Dad would hit his car - unfortunately the police agreed!

You drove very dangerously, you swore at a stranger who challenged you then you threatened to punch him in the face. What would you have done if he had threatened to punch you in the face?

You've got to forgive yourself for your actions here and move on.

I get a bit like this, if I blow up - even if its justified and something that 80% of people wouldn't even think twice about, or even be proud of themselves for doing - I can flog myself over it.

Holding yourself to a higher standard is good, but dont let it eat you up. The guy sounded like he needed to be told in this instance. You're also quite right in what you said, someone is going to punch him one day!

He's the worst sort of bully. Playing the big man haranguing a woman, then bleating to the police when you retaliate.